Bahrein (AsiaNews) – Last Saturday, Feb. 21, MBC's (Middle East Broadcasting Corp.) second channel began airing the Arab version of the "Big Brother" television series.

Began 5 years ago in the West, the popular reality show has registered 2 over billon viewers, around one third of the world's population.   

The show is called "Al-Rayes" (The President) in Arabic and the winner takes home a prize worth 100,000 US dollars. The daily series is presented by the Lebanese TV host Razan Moghrabi, with short films on the lives of Al-Rayes participants airing prior to each episode.

The house used for the series is located on the island of Amwaj in Bahrein and is unique. It is the only Big Brother house worldwide equipped with a "mosque", with a special place in the house designated for Muslim worship or prayer.      

Closet-circuit TV cameras spy on the 12 male and female Muslim participants 24 hours a day

Among the participants are an actress from Bahrein, a musician from Iraq, a Karate teacher from Kuwait and a male dancer from Jordan, professions that are all taboo for Islamic fundamentalists, just like promiscuity is between different sexes.

The house has two large bedrooms which are strictly segregated according to gender, but there is a common room where men and women participants can interact.  Single men and women living under the same roof is yet another taboo in the world of Islam.

The show allows the public to witness how Arab citizens from various countries can get along and understand one another, considered a revolution in the television industry.

Only one of the show's female contestants wears long clothes to cover her body, that is the traditional Jallabiah; all the other women do not cover their heads, as is custom in the West.      

The first few episodes have gained the curiosity of a wide audience, while for now no criticism of any kind has been raised. (PB) 

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